Fly Kansas Air Tour Takes Off

The annual Fly Kansas Air Tour will kick off on Tuesday, Sept. 29, and will visit 12 Kansas communities in five days, promoting aviation in Kansas.

The tour kicks off in Wellington and concludes in Newton on Oct. 3 making stops in Pratt, Dodge City, Liberal, Garden City, Colby, Hays, Concordia, Junction City, Emporia and Beaumont.

“The Fly Kansas Air Tour is a unique chance to see the state and learn about general aviation up close,” KDOT Aviation Director Tiffany Brown said. “We hope to connect with both students and members of the community to demonstrate the important role their airport plays in their community.”

At stops along the tour, students will be invited to learn about topics including basic flight principles and aviation education opportunities as well as discuss careers in aviation with air ambulance operations, airport managers, aerial applicators, engineers, airline pilots and the meet the 1st Aviation CombatBrigade from Fort Riley.

Local community members are welcome and encouraged to visit the airport to watch the mass arrival of aircraft and visit with the pilots. The air tour starts at Wellington Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 8 a.m., followed by stops in Pratt at 10:45 a.m., Dodge City at 1 p.m., and Liberal at 3:45 p.m. The second day of the air tour will feature stops in Garden City at 9 a.m., Colby at 11:00 a.m. and Hays 1:30 p.m. The final day of the official tour will start with a stop in Concordia at 10 a.m. followed by Junction City at 1 p.m. and Emporia at 3 p.m.

On Saturday, Oct. 3, the air tour will stop in Newton and participate in the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 88 fly-in at the Newton airport which features Young Eagle flights and commemorative Air Force aircraft as well as a banquet dinner.